Monthly Archives: January 2013

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The official mascot of Colorado State University is a Ram named “CAM,” an acronym derived from the original name of this institution, Colorado Agricultural and Mechanical College. I drew “CRAM” the Ram for my daughter, who is studying hard at C.S.U., because every college student can identify with cramming for an exam. I have memories of my roommates pulling all-nighters in college. The reason I have those memories is because I was up with them.

And I pulled it off. With poor study habits, I showed sufficient mastery of an array of subjects to pass the requisite courses for a college diploma.

Spiritual training doesn’t work that way. In the Master’s school of spiritual growth, cramming for exams is useless, because tests are not only part of the training, they’re the whole of the training. All of life–the entire curriculum–is a test given by our Instructor–a test of walking with Him in trust.

Prosperity is one kind of test. Adversity is another. The latter is more difficult to endure, but the former may be harder to pass.

None of our test-taking is classroom theory. It’s all practical application. And our Teacher is with us morning, noon, and night, because all of His instruction is relationship based. All of our learning, changing, and growing is relationship based.

Here’s the tricky part. Although the Teacher is always teaching, we aren’t always learning. While class is always in session, we aren’t always present. Even though the Master is always testing, we aren’t always passing.

Here’s the good part. The Master will keep teaching until we learn, and keep testing until we pass, no matter how many times He has to repeat the lesson, no matter how long it takes.